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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 Employee of the Year Script2017 Employee of the Year Script Individual Awards This year we had 55 nominations for 33 different employees. We always get an extraordinary group of nominees and the Employee Recognition Committee has quite a task selecting the Employees of the Year. This year, we’ve chosen 12 outstanding individuals to receive an award. From start to finish, this process is about peer to peer recognition of those staff members who have gone “above and beyond” in their roles at the City. While we want to give appropriate recognition to our award recipients, we also want to ensure you all have time to enjoy the day with your colleagues and their families. Therefore, we have summarized the great accomplishments of each employee of the year from their written nominations and we’ll call each one forward to receive their award and get their photo taken. Our first employee of the year for 2017 comes from the Utilities Department, and is being recognized for LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT. In development review, he ensures his work is consistent, on-time and follows all policies and procedures. His ability to frankly and honestly communicate difficult issues with colleges and applicants is a rare strength. During budget planning, the Utilities CIP process can be difficult. This last year, he learned the process, worked with everyone, figured out what needed to be done and kept everyone on task. When there were changes and issues, he just dealt with them and figured it out. His calm personality and sense of humor makes him a great coworker. (Miguel Barcenas, Utilities) The next employee of the year comes from the Police Department and is being recognized for HONESTY, RESPECT AND TRUST. She is front and center for the controversial and longstanding issue of town-gown relationships; she reconciles tenants with landlords; educates students and landlords on City policies; interacts with members of the public who are either not happy with each other or not happy with the City; and handles herself with grace, confidence and kindness. She does all this and interacts with City staff in a straight-forward and honest manner, with a commitment to listen with an open mind. For this, and many other things, she deserves to be recognized for her outstanding awesomeness. (Christine Wallace, Police) Will NOT be attending This employee of the year is from Community Development, and is being recognized for INNOVATION AND FLEXIBILITY. She has repeatedly stepped up and filled the needs of the department without being asked. For example, she took it upon herself to become a licensed surveyor and also a notary public. Both of these were desperately needed within the department and the City. She is a team player who works on the most high-profile, critical projects and also takes time to answer technical questions and help coworkers and customers. She brings enthusiasm, helpfulness, and expertise to everything she does. (Diane Dostalek, Community Development) The next employee of the year is from Public Works, and is being recognized for HONESTY, RESPECT AND TRUST. There is no problem or project for which he does not have a solution. He has been the lead for the Santa Rosa St. sidewalk replacement (on a main City thoroughfare with high visibility in the community) and has gone over and above to ensure public safety, workplace safety, and overall job quality for the project. He believes in doing thing right the first time and has always demonstrated a great attitude while doing so. He has shown leadership beyond what is expected, and every person he teaches receives his best knowledge; teaching the tricks of the trade that have taken him years to learn. (Johnny Gallardo, Public Works) This next employee of the year comes from the Police Department and received 8 separate nominations. He is being recognized today for demonstrating SHARED VISION, MISSION AND GOALS and embodying what a leader should be. He is approachable, personable and respected by all who work with him. He deals with the pains of his physical profession, and maintains a positive, inspiring attitude. He has vast experience in law enforcement, and has led many units and volunteered for several committees. He effectively leads his team from the front, personally setting an example of what he expects; making his expectations clear and reasonable; then letting his employees manage those responsibilities. He is a role model to the younger officers, and when faced with obstacles, he stands firm for what he believes with integrity and honesty. (Kurt Hixenbaugh, Police) MAY NOT be attending Our next employee of the year comes from the Fire Department and is being recognized for INITIATIVE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. He recently filled in as an Engineer where he used his skills as a tiller operator (one of the most challenging driving positions), though he is a paramedic. He has volunteered to teach "Hands Only CPR" to all City Employees and brought the full value of his experience in a different community to the City’s implementation of PulsePoint (an app which allows all citizens to see emergency calls and be notified when CPR is needed in their area). He took the initiative to focus forcefully on the marketing and messaging of PulsePoint, the implementation of the new Electronic Patient Care reporting system, and is well liked and an invaluable resource for the department. (Nick Hoover, Fire) The next employee of the year is from the Utilities Department and is being recognized for SERVICE. He is constantly called on to assist staff with complex, nuanced issues relating to the City’s water system. His knowledge and experience are outstanding, and he will often go out of his way to help other distribution operators complete their assignments, without compromising his own duties. Recently he took on the monumental task of excavating the Whale Rock transmission line after a breech was noticed, volunteering to excavate the line safely and quickly, allowing for the repair to be started. This was not a normal assignment for a distribution operator, but he tackled it, going well beyond what was expected of him. (Travis Tutt, Utilities) Will NOT be attending Our next employee of the year is from Parks and Recreation, and is being recognized for being a TEAM PLAYER. He focuses his energy on innovative programming, helping his co-workers, and taking on extra responsibilities--all in the name of providing excellent services to City customers. During his time with the City, he has introduced programs, including: Turkey Trot, September Scramble, and Rock around SLO. This year he supported staff on Reindeer Run, Triathlon, and numerous Youth Services events. When Youth Services needed a “Mad Scientist” for a Camp, he was there. When they needed a “Superman,” he was there. When a co-worker’s house was on fire, he was there. His response, when asked for a favor, is always: Sure, how can I help? Working with him is working with a reliable, innovative, fun and loyal friend. (Chris Woods, Parks & Rec) MAY NOT be attending This employee of the year is from the Finance Department and is being recognized for INITIATIVE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. She fills multiple roles, assisting with General Accounting, Budget, and even Payroll. Her institutional knowledge is invaluable and she is always willing to assist anyone who asks. She is the epitome of a team player and genuinely works for the best interests of the City. She always has a smile on her face, and is friendly and willing to help; going the extra mile to help anyone and improve the financial processes that effect staff across the City. (Traci Kawaguchi, Finance) The next employee of the year is from Human Resources and is being recognized for LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT. She started at the City in 2008 as the Wellness Intern/Coordinator, and has progressed through HR Admin Assistant, Recruitment Specialist, and Analyst (the position she holds today). Her hard work, positivity and dedication to the City are valuable assets; always offering assistance when things need to get done or someone needs help. She is an amazing communicator, teacher, listener, and mentor, with great follow through and organization. (Nickole Sutter, Human Resources) Will NOT be attending Our next employee of the year is from Public Works and is being recognized for SERVICE. She always has time to answer questions and will go the extra mile to insure your needs are met. She shares her many secrets to make the jobs of others easier, and is the administrative ROCK of Public Works toggling between internal support and residential customer service. She provides assistance and support for over a dozen managers and their staff, two deputy directors and a department head. Her reasonable and rational approach to situations keeps everyone sane and she has one of the best senses of humor in the department. (Phyllis Simpson, Public Works) The last employee of the year is from Parks and Recreation, and is being recognized for INNOVATION AND FLEXIBILITY. When the City received the first draft of its massive fee study last year, the Parks & Rec fees were not included. This staff member came up with a way to calculate them using his number crunching & excel spreadsheet expertise. He used the preliminary data to determine the true cost of providing various programs, current cost recovery levels and recommended fees increases. This was in addition to his regular daily workload and being a new dad. His attention to detail was remarkable and his work product invaluable. This being just one example of his accepting accountability for projects that "land in his lap". (Devin Hyfield, Parks & Rec) Congratulations to all the Employee of the Year Recipients! Group Recognitions Last year we did something new and accepted nominations for a separate, special recognition for work groups (either within or across departments), which was so successful that we decided to continue it. This year we received 17 nominations for 11 different work groups, and 2 have been selected to receive an award. This first group received 5 nominations and is being recognized for its SHARED VISION, MISSION AND GOALS. The San Luis Obispo Police Department is a model of professionalism and ethics to surrounding agencies. When it transitioned to "team-based" scheduling, the group being recognized today implemented the new method wholeheartedly, and has pulled together and bonded like no other. They maintain the highest standards, a positive attitude and motivate each other to achieve goals. They have exemplified honesty, respect and trust between the members of their team and the community it serves. They have recognized the value of community policing and, with the community's assistance, have succeeded in arresting some of the most violent criminals in San Luis Obispo. Police Patrol Team 2 Anthony Pellouso,  Blake Etherton,  Brian Amoroso,  Jacob Dinsmore,  Jeff Koznek,  Kevin Phillips,  Miguel Lozano,  Quentin Rouse  Tim Koznek,   The second and last group is being recognized today for their SERVICE and support of all City departments. In the last year, they worked to not only complete vital projects, but train all City employees, upgrade City systems, and keep everyone informed of changes. They began the implementation of Microsoft Office 365 and continue to rollout parts of this software to help all staff be more efficient in their jobs. They worked on the CAD/RMS upgrade which will dramatically affect the way dispatchers handle emergency calls and have worked tirelessly on so many other projects to get the City updated and running smoothly. This team is a high functioning and efficient group, dedicated to helping and serving all City departments and employees, which, in turn, helps the City provide the best services possible to its citizens. Information Technology Division David Yun,  Dawn Hutchinson,  Eric Geddes,  Eric Mortensen,  Haley Parker,  Jason Dornish,  Jesse Nolasco,  Josh Erquiaga,  Lynn Wilwand,  Mary Andrews,  Miguel Guardado,  Nic Orrben,  Nicola Morais,  Paul Takagi,  Steve Schmidt   That concludes the awards portion of our day. Thank you all for your attention, and congratulations to everyone.